Manuel Fasser on the Swing Apus 15. Photo: manuelfasser.at
Apus is the Latin name for ‘swift’, the small, agile bird that darts about at high speed and likes to spend very little time on the ground.
Swing say their new glider shares more than just a name with the bird, gliding through the skies with agility and speed: “Pure flying enjoyment; perfect dynamics”.
It is the Mistral’s little brother, and sits somewhere between it and their footlaunched Hybrid speedwing in Swing’s range, but closer to the Mistral. Its characteristics are more that of a standard paraglider, with “excellent” glide, ridge-soaring and thermalling abilities.
The EN D-certified Apus has agile handling, but Swing say, “Pilots will master this without too much adjustment”.
The Apus is available in three sizes, the middle of which is still undergoing certification. The sizes have wide weight ranges, for example the 15m2 version is certified for takeoff weights of 60-90kg, which adds to its versatility.
Technical specifications for Swing's EN D Apus
Swing envisage the Apus being used by freestylers, high-wind coastal soarers, hike-and-flyers, travellers, adventure racers (such as the Dolomitenmann) and as a fun second glider for messing around on.
Swing make the Apus in two standard colours, or you can get creative and as garish as you like, with their colour design tool (click on the image below to open up the tool and have a play).
Swing's Apus coplour design tool
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